The Quest for Moral Foundations

A concise, yet engaging introduction to the field of ethics, this volume offers a systematic study of the foundations of moral responsibility. Montague Brown guides the reader on an examination of a wide range of ethical positions, including relativism, emotivism, egoism, utilitarianism, Kantian formalsim, and natural law. The discussion progresses from the weakest relativistic positions to the strongest absolutist postions, weighing the merits of each and ultimately arguing in favor of an absolute morality based on natural law. The book incorporates the voices of the major moral philosophers, from ancient to contemporary. It explains not only the history behind the development of each position, but also the roles science, democracy, and religion play in moral thinking today. Students and teachers of philosophy, ethics, and religion, as well as the general reader, will find that The Quest for Moral Foundations tackles the serious issues, yet offers an accessible introduction to the study of ethics.